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Red and green M&Ms are all over my counters right now. I'm throwing together these pretzel hugs for the school event tomorrow. They're those salty-sweet bites that vanish way too fast. We tried them last Christmas when I needed something super fast, and now we can't stop making them every holiday. Just three items, one pan, and you’ve only got to give it twenty minutes. The trickiest part? Keeping everyone from eating them before they cool off!
Why Go For This
These pretzel goodies totally bailed me out when I forgot the cookie swap last week. Takes barely any time, but people seriously think you spent forever making them. The kids get a kick out of shoving the M&Ms on before they're set—I cranked out four rounds last weekend for teacher treats. Cheaper than fancy seasonal candy at the store, and whenever you run low, just whip up a tiny batch in a few minutes.
What You'll Grab
- Holiday M&Ms: Go with the red and green if it's Christmas, or switch to other colors for whatever you're celebrating
- Square pretzels: Those grid-style pretzels are awesome for holding that chocolate in place
- Hershey's Hugs: The swirly white and milk chocolate ones are great, but regular kisses work if that's what you've got
Easy-Peasy Treats
- Let them cool
- Let them chill till they firm up, or slide the sheet in the fridge if you don’t have time
- Quick M&M smash
- Right when the chocolate’s soft, gently press an M&M down before it firms back up
- Soften up the chocolate
- Bake about 4 minutes—watch close, they get soft super quick
- Put on the chocolate
- Drop a hug or kiss in the middle of each pretzel
- Lay out your pretzels
- Put pretzels across your lined pan with little gaps in between
- Prepare the sheet
- Cover your baking tray in parchment so nothing gets stuck
- Warm up the oven
- Heat your oven to 200° so the chocolate softens just right
Turning Them Up A Notch
Started trying out different M&M colors for each celebration. Hanukkah came out sweet with blue and white ones. Biggest trick? Get the chocolate soft but not fully melted—I messed up the first time and ended up with a puddle of chocolate. Using both regular kisses and hugs in one batch means you get a bunch of flavors together.
Setting Up Smoothly
Wipe down your workspace before you get started—it helps when you're racing to top those chocolates. Keep extra M&Ms handy because a few always go missing (kids usually snatch them!). Made these one hot summer day—had to blast the AC or they just wouldn't set up. A baking tray with raised edges keeps runaway pretzels off the counter.
Watch The Clock
Most ovens only need four minutes, but peek inside since some ovens get weird. The chocolate should squish when you poke it but not melt into a puddle. First time I tried, I left them too long and chocolate went everywhere. I always use a timer and start checking after three minutes just in case.
Keeps Well
Once these cool, they’ll hang out in a container for a week—if people don’t eat them sooner. Packed up three rounds for the cookie swap and stacked them with wax paper so they'd stay neat. They’re awesome for bringing along, but keep them away from heat or you’ll have a mess.
Make It Your Way
Each round turns out a little different if you change how speedy you are. I throw in extra pretzels for the ones that break or get eaten as we go. Tried using mini kisses—just don’t heat them as long. My neighbor gave the dark chocolate kisses a spin last week, and seriously, the salty pretzel with the rich chocolate was the best.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What’s the total prep time?
About 10 minutes to set up, 4 minutes baking, and chill them in the fridge for around 15 minutes.
- → Can I replace the chocolate?
Absolutely! Hershey's Kisses or any fitting chocolate would work perfectly.
- → Are these safe for gluten-free diets?
No, most pretzels have gluten. You’ll need gluten-free ones as a substitute.
- → How can I store leftovers?
Keep them in a container at room temp. For longer storage, pop them in the fridge.
- → Can they be prepped in advance?
Yes, you can make them 1–2 days beforehand. They stay fresh and tasty.
Conclusion
Need another fast dessert? Try 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies. Mix sugar, peanut butter, and one egg for an effortless treat. Both are great time-savers during the busy season with minimal effort needed.